Pipelining machine



Feb. 2, 1965 F. M. MATHENY 3,167,837

PIPELINING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. FRANC/S M, MATHENV i1 2- 5 By ATTOQN EVS Feb. 2, 1965 F. M. MATHENY 3,167,337

PIPELINING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Wm 1&4

A TTO IZN EVS United States Patent This invention has to do with apparatus for lining smalldiameter pipelines with cement mortar.

It is common practice in lining pipelines in place in g the ground with cement mortar to utilize a machine which centrifugally dispenses the mortar onto the inner surface of the pipe and which smoothes the mortar by means of one or more trowels rotated behind the dispensing head. However, considerable difficulty has been experienced with rotating trowels in pipe of small diameter, that is, pipe of the order of twelve inches and less in diameter, because of the extreme curvature of the pipe, and it has been necessary to resort to trailing frusto-conical elements. When the latter are used in conjunction with the common centrifugal-type mortar dispensing head the fluid consistency of the mortar must be very carefully regulated and maintained to insure a proper lining. If the mortar is too thick, it builds up ahead of'the troweling element and may stop the machine. If the mortar is too thin, the troweling means will sink therein and not be centered in the pipe, with the result that the lining will be uneven and too thin in certain areas.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel pipelining apparatus designed to overcome the above difficulties which is particularly useful in lining relatively small-diameter pipe with cement mortar.

Another object is to provide novel troweling means which is particularly suitable for use in a small diameter type pipe in conjunction with a centrifugal-type mortar coating machine.

A further object is to provide a novel driven troweling member in the nature of a roller which is free to rotate about its own axis and which is rotated as a whole about the axis of the pipe being lined as it is moved axially through the pipeline.

Still another object is to provide novel means for driving a centrifugal-type mortar dispensing head at one speed and for driving a troweling means at a slower speed.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pipelining machine shown within a section of pipeline, the latter and the applied mortar coating being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another form of troweling member; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally designates a pipelining machine and this includes a motor 12, an adapter 13, a casing 14, and a rotatable dispensing head 15. The latter is rapidly rotated to dispense or fling mortar M over the inner surface 17 of a pipe or pipeline 18. The mortar is supplied through conduits 19 and moved through the easing into an extension 14' thereon and outwardly thereof through slots 20 to the mortar head.

The motor drives the head which is mounted on a hollow shaft 21 by means of a jack shaft 22, gears 23 and 24 between the motor shaft and the jack shaft, and gears 3,167,837 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 25 and 26 between the hollow shaft and the jack shaft. The latter is supported in bearings 27 and 28 while the hollow shaft is journaled in bearings 29 and 3%.

A stationary tube 32 is mounted as a cantilever member at its inner end in a block 33 provided in the adapter 13. This tube extends freely through the hollow shaft 21 and projects beyond the head 15 to a position rearwardly thereof. Inside the tube 32 is a drive shaft 35 which is directly coupled to the motor shaft.

Mounted on the outer end of the tube 32 is a gearcase 36 and this is shown provided with hearing 37 journalice ' ing the shaft 35 and with a planetary gear arrangement in place of the roller trowel.

including the spline gear 38 on the end of the shaft, a ring gear 39 fixed to the case and a rotatable set of planet gears 40. A shaft or support 42 which initially projects axially of the machine, and thus normally axially of the pipe, is mounted to rotate with the planet gears. Member 42 includes an angularly disposed or radially offset portion 43.

An axle 45 is pivotally mounted on the end of the shaft or support 42, and this carries a roller trowel or rotatable troweling member 48. The latter includes a main section 49 which is cylindrical and which normally engages and smoothes the applied mortar, and forwardly of this a conoidal section 50 which terminates in a reduced section 51. A hearing 52 serves to rotatably mount the forward end of the troweling member. A guide wheel 53 carried on an arm 54 fixed to the axle by means of a setscrew 55 runs in an annular channel or track 56 on the inner side of the cylindrical portion of the troweling member. The axle 45 is biased by means of a spring 57 on a rod 58 which is pivotally mounted on the forward end of the axle and extends through member 42, being fitted with an adjustment nut 59. The arm 54 should preferably be in the same plane as the member 58 and end portion 43 of member 42.

In the operation of the device the machine travels through the pipeline in the direction from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Mortar is flung against the inner wall of the pipe through the head 15, the head rotating at a relatively high speed for this purpose. The troweling member is rotated at a much slower speed through the medium of the gearing inside case 36. As the troweling member is rotated as a whole it may also rotate about the axis of the axle 45 so that a combined rolling and troweling action of the mortar is obtained which has been found to produce an even and smooth surface upon the mortar lining.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, I show another tyqae of troweling member 50 which may be used in some lining operations In this case the troweling member comprises a curved metal blade having a bracket 61 which is mounted upon the end of an arm 62 by means of the bolt means 63. The arm is fixed to the axle 45 by a setscrew 64. The trailing portion of the blade as it is rotated with the axle 45 is maintained in proper pressure engagement with the mortar by the spring 57.

Although I have illustrated and described preferred forms of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for applying a cement mortar lining to the interior of a pipeline, a pipelining machine including a motor and a motor-driven centrifugal-type mortar dispensing head, a troweling roller, roller support means mounted on said machine supporting said roller beyond said dispensing head for rotation about an axis parallel to but radially offset from the axis of the dispensing head, and means operably connected to the motor for rotating said roller support means about the axis of said head.

2. A pipelining machine, comprising a casing, a motor,

a rotary centrifugal-type mortar dispensing head driven by the motor, a support mounted in the casing and extending through and beyond said head, an axle carried by said support radially ofliset frorn but substantially parallel to the rotary axis of the head, a troweling roller rotatably mounted on said axle, and operable connection means a on the casing beyond said between said motor and said axle for rotating said axle as-a whole'about the rotary axis of said head.

3. A pipelining machine adapted to be moved axially through. a pipe to be lined, comprising means for applying cement mortar to the inner Wall of the pipe, a troweling roller, roller support means mounted on said machine supporting said roller beyond the mortar applying .meansfor rotation about an axis parallel to but radially offset from a the axis of the pipe, and-means for rotating said roller,

support means about the axis of the pipe.

4. Troweling means adapted'forattachment to the trailing end of'a pipelining machine, comprising a member extending from the machine and adapted to be rotated thereby on the axis of the pipe, an axle pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said member at a point spaced radially from the axis of rotation, said axle extending generally parallel to said axis of the member, a troweling roller carried on the trailing portion of the axle and rotatable thereon, and spring means between the forward part a of the axle and said member yieldably urging the same radially inwardly of its point of support.

5. A pipelining machine, comprising a motoya casing containing the motor, a rotary mortar dispensing head carried by said axle mounting member, said'axle being disposed parallelto but radially spaced from the axis of said shaft, anda troweling rollerrotatably mounted on said axle. a I

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,822 8/43 Brend 25 38 2,399,321 4/46 ,Butler 25-38, 2,484,018 10/49 Crom'; 25-38 2,575,353 11/51 MaoEvoy 25-38 2,704,873 3/55' Kirwan et al. 2538 2,758,352 8/56 Perkins 2538 3,044,136 7/62 Perkins 25-38 3,108,348 10/63 Schultz 25+38 MICHAEL V. BRINDIS L Primary Examiner. I 7 ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner. 

3. A PIPELINING MACHINE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED AXIALLY THROUGH A PIPE TO BE LINED, COMPRISING MEANS FOR APPLYING CEMENT MORTAR TO THE INNER WALL OF THE PIPE, TROWELING ROLLER, ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID MACHINE SUPPORTING SAID ROLLER BEYOND THE MORTAR APPLYING MEANS FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO BUT RADIALLY OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF THE PIPE, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE PIPE. 